PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: On Prophoca and Leptophoca (Pinnipedia, Phocidae) from the Miocene of the North Atlantic realm: redescription, phylogenetic affinities and paleobiogeographic implications
items: Modeling using clinical examination indicators predicts interstitial lung disease among patients with rheumatoid arthritis
items: Molecular and morphological data reveal three new cryptic species of Chiasmocleis (Mehely 1904) (Anura, Microhylidae) endemic to the Atlantic Forest, Brazil
items: A detailed observation of the ejection and retraction of defense tissue acontia in sea anemone (Exaiptasia pallida)
items: How patch size and refuge availability change interaction strength and population dynamics: a combined individual- and population-based modeling experiment
items: Counting complete? Finalising the plant inventory of a global biodiversity hotspot
items: Patient satisfaction with doctor-patient interaction and its association with modifiable cardiovascular risk factors among moderately-high risk patients in primary healthcare
items: Bax-inhibitor-1 knockdown phenotypes are suppressed by Buffy and exacerbate degeneration in a Drosophila model of Parkinson disease
items: Intersexual differences of heat shock response between two amphipods (Eulimnogammarus verrucosus and Eulimnogammarus cyaneus) in Lake Baikal
items: Species coexistence and the superior ability of an invasive species to exploit a facilitation cascade habitat

On Prophoca and Leptophoca (Pinnipedia, Phocidae) from the Miocene of the North Atlantic realm: redescription, phylogenetic affinities and paleobiogeographic implications
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Prophoca and Leptophoca represent the oldest known genera of phocine seals, dating from the latest early to middle Miocene. Originally, Prophoca rousseaui and Prophoca proxima were described based on fragmentary remains from the Miocene of Belgium. However, several researchers contested the union of Prophoca rousseaui and Prophoca proxima into one genus, without providing evidence. The stratigraphic context of Prophoca remained poorly constrained due to the lack of precise data associated with the original specimens collected in the area of Antwerp (north of Belgium). Methods Prophoca and Leptophoca are redescribed and their phylogenetic position among Phocidae is reassessed using PAUP. Dinoflagellate biostratigraphy has been carried out on sediment samples associated with specimens from Prophoca and Leptophoca to elucidate their approximate ages. Results Whereas the species Prophoca rousseaui is redescribed, Prophoca proxima is considered synonymous to Leptophoca lenis, with the proposal of a new combination Leptophoca proxima (Van Beneden, 1877). Sediment samples from specimens of both taxa have been dated to the late Langhian–early Serravallian (middle Miocene). Following a reinvestigation of Leptophoca amphiatlantica, characters from the original diagnosis are questioned and the specimens of Leptophoca amphiatlantica are considered Leptophoca cf. L. proxima. In a phylogenetic analysis, Prophoca rousseaui and Leptophoca proxima constitute early branching stem-phocines. Discussion Leptophoca proxima from the North Sea Basin is younger than the oldest known find of Leptophoca proxima from North America, which does not contradict the hypothesis that Phocinae originated along the east coast of North America during the late early Miocene, followed by dispersal to Europe shortly after. Morphological features of the appendicular skeleton indicate that Prophoca rousseaui and Leptophoca proxima have archaic locomotory modes, retaining a more prominent use of th…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Leonard Dewaele
creator: Olivier Lambert
creator: Stephen Louwye
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Paleontology
subject: Taxonomy
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3024
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Dewaele et al.
abstract: Background Prophoca and Leptophoca represent the oldest known genera of phocine seals, dating from the latest early to middle Miocene. Originally, Prophoca rousseaui and Prophoca proxima were described based on fragmentary remains from the Miocene of Belgium. However, several researchers contested the union of Prophoca rousseaui and Prophoca proxima into one genus, without providing evidence. The stratigraphic context of Prophoca remained poorly constrained due to the lack of precise data associated with the original specimens collected in the area of Antwerp (north of Belgium). Methods Prophoca and Leptophoca are redescribed and their phylogenetic position among Phocidae is reassessed using PAUP. Dinoflagellate biostratigraphy has been carried out on sediment samples associated with specimens from Prophoca and Leptophoca to elucidate their approximate ages. Results Whereas the species Prophoca rousseaui is redescribed, Prophoca proxima is considered synonymous to Leptophoca lenis, with the proposal of a new combination Leptophoca proxima (Van Beneden, 1877). Sediment samples from specimens of both taxa have been dated to the late Langhian–early Serravallian (middle Miocene). Following a reinvestigation of Leptophoca amphiatlantica, characters from the original diagnosis are questioned and the specimens of Leptophoca amphiatlantica are considered Leptophoca cf. L. proxima. In a phylogenetic analysis, Prophoca rousseaui and Leptophoca proxima constitute early branching stem-phocines. Discussion Leptophoca proxima from the North Sea Basin is younger than the oldest known find of Leptophoca proxima from North America, which does not contradict the hypothesis that Phocinae originated along the east coast of North America during the late early Miocene, followed by dispersal to Europe shortly after. Morphological features of the appendicular skeleton indicate that Prophoca rousseaui and Leptophoca proxima have archaic locomotory modes, retaining a more prominent use of th…
bibliographic citation: Dewaele et al. (2017) On Prophoca and Leptophoca (Pinnipedia, Phocidae) from the Miocene of the North Atlantic realm: redescription, phylogenetic affinities and paleobiogeographic implications. PeerJ 5:e3024 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3024
date submitted: 2016-06-24
date accepted: 2017-01-24
issued: 2017-02-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Dewaele
  given name: Leonard
author list: Agent
  family name: Lambert
  given name: Olivier
author list: Agent
  family name: Louwye
  given name: Stephen
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3024
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-02-21
copyright: © 2017 Dewaele et al.
attribution name: Dewaele et al.

Modeling using clinical examination indicators predicts interstitial lung disease among patients with rheumatoid arthritis
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a severe extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that is well-defined as a chronic systemic autoimmune disease. A proportion of patients with RA-associated ILD (RA-ILD) develop pulmonary fibrosis (PF), resulting in poor prognosis and increased lifetime risk. We investigated whether routine clinical examination indicators (CEIs) could be used to identify RA patients with high PF risk. A total of 533 patients with established RA were recruited in this study for model building and 32 CEIs were measured for each of them. To identify PF risk, a new artificial neural network (ANN) was built, in which inputs were generated by calculating Euclidean distance of CEIs between patients. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the ANN performed well in predicting the PF risk (Youden index = 0.436) by only incorporating four CEIs including age, eosinophil count, platelet count, and white blood cell count. A set of 218 RA patients with healthy lungs or suffering from ILD and a set of 87 RA patients suffering from PF were used for independent validation. Results showed that the model successfully identified ILD and PF with a true positive rate of 84.9% and 82.8%, respectively. The present study suggests that model integration of multiple routine CEIs contributes to identification of potential PF risk among patients with RA.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Yao Wang
creator: Wuqi Song
creator: Jing Wu
creator: Zhangming Li
creator: Fengyun Mu
creator: Yang Li
creator: He Huang
creator: Wenliang Zhu
creator: Fengmin Zhang
subject: Immunology
subject: Respiratory Medicine
subject: Rheumatology
subject: Statistics
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3021
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Wang et al.
abstract: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a severe extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that is well-defined as a chronic systemic autoimmune disease. A proportion of patients with RA-associated ILD (RA-ILD) develop pulmonary fibrosis (PF), resulting in poor prognosis and increased lifetime risk. We investigated whether routine clinical examination indicators (CEIs) could be used to identify RA patients with high PF risk. A total of 533 patients with established RA were recruited in this study for model building and 32 CEIs were measured for each of them. To identify PF risk, a new artificial neural network (ANN) was built, in which inputs were generated by calculating Euclidean distance of CEIs between patients. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the ANN performed well in predicting the PF risk (Youden index = 0.436) by only incorporating four CEIs including age, eosinophil count, platelet count, and white blood cell count. A set of 218 RA patients with healthy lungs or suffering from ILD and a set of 87 RA patients suffering from PF were used for independent validation. Results showed that the model successfully identified ILD and PF with a true positive rate of 84.9% and 82.8%, respectively. The present study suggests that model integration of multiple routine CEIs contributes to identification of potential PF risk among patients with RA.
bibliographic citation: Wang et al. (2017) Modeling using clinical examination indicators predicts interstitial lung disease among patients with rheumatoid arthritis. PeerJ 5:e3021 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3021
date submitted: 2016-10-20
date accepted: 2017-01-24
issued: 2017-02-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Yao
author list: Agent
  family name: Song
  given name: Wuqi
author list: Agent
  family name: Wu
  given name: Jing
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Zhangming
author list: Agent
  family name: Mu
  given name: Fengyun
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Yang
author list: Agent
  family name: Huang
  given name: He
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhu
  given name: Wenliang
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Fengmin
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3021
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-02-21
copyright: ©2017 Wang et al.
attribution name: Wang et al.

Molecular and morphological data reveal three new cryptic species of Chiasmocleis (Mehely 1904) (Anura, Microhylidae) endemic to the Atlantic Forest, Brazil
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Three new cryptic species of Chiasmocleis from the Atlantic Forest of Brazil are described. Two of these species occur in the northeastern states of Sergipe and Bahia, whereas the third species is found in the southeastern state of São Paulo. The new species can be distinguished from other congeneric species by the molecular data, as evidenced in the phylogeny, and by a combination of morphological characters including: size, foot webbing, dermal spines, and coloration patterns. Chiasmocleis species differ in osteological traits, therefore we also provide an osteological description of each new species and comparsions with data reported for other species in the genus.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Mauricio C. Forlani
creator: João F.R. Tonini
creator: Carlos A.G. Cruz
creator: Hussam Zaher
creator: Rafael O. de Sá
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Genetics
subject: Taxonomy
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3005
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Forlani et al.
abstract: Three new cryptic species of Chiasmocleis from the Atlantic Forest of Brazil are described. Two of these species occur in the northeastern states of Sergipe and Bahia, whereas the third species is found in the southeastern state of São Paulo. The new species can be distinguished from other congeneric species by the molecular data, as evidenced in the phylogeny, and by a combination of morphological characters including: size, foot webbing, dermal spines, and coloration patterns. Chiasmocleis species differ in osteological traits, therefore we also provide an osteological description of each new species and comparsions with data reported for other species in the genus.
bibliographic citation: Forlani et al. (2017) Molecular and morphological data reveal three new cryptic species of Chiasmocleis (Mehely 1904) (Anura, Microhylidae) endemic to the Atlantic Forest, Brazil. PeerJ 5:e3005 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3005
date submitted: 2016-08-29
date accepted: 2017-01-19
issued: 2017-02-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Forlani
  given name: Mauricio C.
author list: Agent
  family name: Tonini
  given name: João F.R.
author list: Agent
  family name: Cruz
  given name: Carlos A.G.
author list: Agent
  family name: Zaher
  given name: Hussam
author list: Agent
  family name: de Sá
  given name: Rafael O.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3005
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-02-21
copyright: ©2017 Forlani et al.
attribution name: Forlani et al.

A detailed observation of the ejection and retraction of defense tissue acontia in sea anemone (Exaiptasia pallida)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Acontia, located in the gastrovascular cavity of anemone, are thread-like tissue containing numerous stinging cells which serve as a unique defense tissue against predators of the immobile acontiarian sea anemone. Although its morphology and biological functions, such as defense and digestion, have been studied, the defense behavior and the specific events of acontia ejection and retraction are unclear. The aim of this study is to observe and record the detailed process of acontia control in anemones. Observations reveal that the anemone, Exaiptasia pallida, possibly controls a network of body muscles and manipulates water pressure in the gastrovascular cavity to eject and retract acontia. Instead of resynthesizing acontia after each ejection, the retraction and reuse of acontia enables the anemone to respond quickly at any given time, thus increasing its overall survivability. Since the Exaiptasia anemone is an emerging model for coral biology, this study provides a foundation to further investigate the biophysics, neuroscience, and defense biology of this marine model organism.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Julie Lam
creator: Ya-Wen Cheng
creator: Wan-Nan U. Chen
creator: Hsing-Hui Li
creator: Chii-Shiarng Chen
creator: Shao-En Peng
subject: Marine Biology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.2996
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Lam et al.
abstract: Acontia, located in the gastrovascular cavity of anemone, are thread-like tissue containing numerous stinging cells which serve as a unique defense tissue against predators of the immobile acontiarian sea anemone. Although its morphology and biological functions, such as defense and digestion, have been studied, the defense behavior and the specific events of acontia ejection and retraction are unclear. The aim of this study is to observe and record the detailed process of acontia control in anemones. Observations reveal that the anemone, Exaiptasia pallida, possibly controls a network of body muscles and manipulates water pressure in the gastrovascular cavity to eject and retract acontia. Instead of resynthesizing acontia after each ejection, the retraction and reuse of acontia enables the anemone to respond quickly at any given time, thus increasing its overall survivability. Since the Exaiptasia anemone is an emerging model for coral biology, this study provides a foundation to further investigate the biophysics, neuroscience, and defense biology of this marine model organism.
bibliographic citation: Lam et al. (2017) A detailed observation of the ejection and retraction of defense tissue acontia in sea anemone (Exaiptasia pallida). PeerJ 5:e2996 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2996
date submitted: 2016-09-20
date accepted: 2017-01-17
issued: 2017-02-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Lam
  given name: Julie
author list: Agent
  family name: Cheng
  given name: Ya-Wen
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Wan-Nan U.
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Hsing-Hui
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Chii-Shiarng
author list: Agent
  family name: Peng
  given name: Shao-En
doi: 10.7717/peerj.2996
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-02-21
copyright: ©2017 Lam et al.
attribution name: Lam et al.

How patch size and refuge availability change interaction strength and population dynamics: a combined individual- and population-based modeling experiment
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Knowledge on how functional responses (a measurement of feeding interaction strength) are affected by patch size and habitat complexity (represented by refuge availability) is crucial for understanding food-web stability and subsequently biodiversity. Due to their laborious character, it is almost impossible to carry out systematic empirical experiments on functional responses across wide gradients of patch sizes and refuge availabilities. Here we overcame this issue by using an individual-based model (IBM) to simulate feeding experiments. The model is based on empirically measured traits such as body-mass dependent speed and capture success. We simulated these experiments in patches ranging from sizes of petri dishes to natural patches in the field. Moreover, we varied the refuge availability within the patch independently of patch size, allowing for independent analyses of both variables. The maximum feeding rate (the maximum number of prey a predator can consume in a given time frame) is independent of patch size and refuge availability, as it is the physiological upper limit of feeding rates. Moreover, the results of these simulations revealed that a type III functional response, which is known to have a stabilizing effect on population dynamics, fitted the data best. The half saturation density (the prey density where a predator consumes half of its maximum feeding rate) increased with refuge availability but was only marginally influenced by patch size. Subsequently, we investigated how patch size and refuge availability influenced stability and coexistence of predator-prey systems. Following common practice, we used an allometric scaled Rosenzweig–MacArthur predator-prey model based on results from our in silico IBM experiments. The results suggested that densities of both populations are nearly constant across the range of patch sizes simulated, resulting from the constant interaction strength across the patch sizes. However, constant densities with decreasi…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Yuanheng Li
creator: Ulrich Brose
creator: Katrin Meyer
creator: Björn C. Rall
subject: Ecology
subject: Mathematical Biology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.2993
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Li et al.
abstract: Knowledge on how functional responses (a measurement of feeding interaction strength) are affected by patch size and habitat complexity (represented by refuge availability) is crucial for understanding food-web stability and subsequently biodiversity. Due to their laborious character, it is almost impossible to carry out systematic empirical experiments on functional responses across wide gradients of patch sizes and refuge availabilities. Here we overcame this issue by using an individual-based model (IBM) to simulate feeding experiments. The model is based on empirically measured traits such as body-mass dependent speed and capture success. We simulated these experiments in patches ranging from sizes of petri dishes to natural patches in the field. Moreover, we varied the refuge availability within the patch independently of patch size, allowing for independent analyses of both variables. The maximum feeding rate (the maximum number of prey a predator can consume in a given time frame) is independent of patch size and refuge availability, as it is the physiological upper limit of feeding rates. Moreover, the results of these simulations revealed that a type III functional response, which is known to have a stabilizing effect on population dynamics, fitted the data best. The half saturation density (the prey density where a predator consumes half of its maximum feeding rate) increased with refuge availability but was only marginally influenced by patch size. Subsequently, we investigated how patch size and refuge availability influenced stability and coexistence of predator-prey systems. Following common practice, we used an allometric scaled Rosenzweig–MacArthur predator-prey model based on results from our in silico IBM experiments. The results suggested that densities of both populations are nearly constant across the range of patch sizes simulated, resulting from the constant interaction strength across the patch sizes. However, constant densities with decreasi…
bibliographic citation: Li et al. (2017) How patch size and refuge availability change interaction strength and population dynamics: a combined individual- and population-based modeling experiment. PeerJ 5:e2993 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2993
date submitted: 2016-06-24
date accepted: 2017-01-15
issued: 2017-02-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Yuanheng
author list: Agent
  family name: Brose
  given name: Ulrich
author list: Agent
  family name: Meyer
  given name: Katrin
author list: Agent
  family name: Rall
  given name: Björn C.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.2993
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-02-21
copyright: ©2017 Li et al.
attribution name: Li et al.

Counting complete? Finalising the plant inventory of a global biodiversity hotspot
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The Cape Floristic Region—the world’s smallest and third richest botanical hotspot—has benefited from sustained levels of taxonomic effort and exploration for almost three centuries, but how close is this to resulting in a near-complete plant species inventory? We analyse a core component of this flora over a 250-year period for trends in taxonomic effort and species discovery linked to ecological and conservation attributes. We show that >40% of the current total of species was described within the first 100 years of exploration, followed by a continued steady rate of description. We propose that <1% of the flora is still to be described. We document a relatively constant cohort of taxonomists, working over 250 years at what we interpret to be their ‘taxonomic maximum.’ Rates of description of new species were independent of plant growth-form but narrow-range taxa have constituted a significantly greater proportion of species discoveries since 1950. This suggests that the fraction of undiscovered species predominantly comprises localised endemics that are thus of high conservation concern. Our analysis provides important real-world insights for other hotspots in the context of global strategic plans for biodiversity in informing considerations of the likely effort required in attaining set targets of comprehensive plant inventories. In a time of unprecedented biodiversity loss, we argue for a focused research agenda across disciplines to increase the rate of species descriptions in global biodiversity hotspots.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Martina Treurnicht
creator: Jonathan F. Colville
creator: Lucas N. Joppa
creator: Onno Huyser
creator: John Manning
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Conservation Biology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.2984
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Treurnicht et al.
abstract: The Cape Floristic Region—the world’s smallest and third richest botanical hotspot—has benefited from sustained levels of taxonomic effort and exploration for almost three centuries, but how close is this to resulting in a near-complete plant species inventory? We analyse a core component of this flora over a 250-year period for trends in taxonomic effort and species discovery linked to ecological and conservation attributes. We show that >40% of the current total of species was described within the first 100 years of exploration, followed by a continued steady rate of description. We propose that <1% of the flora is still to be described. We document a relatively constant cohort of taxonomists, working over 250 years at what we interpret to be their ‘taxonomic maximum.’ Rates of description of new species were independent of plant growth-form but narrow-range taxa have constituted a significantly greater proportion of species discoveries since 1950. This suggests that the fraction of undiscovered species predominantly comprises localised endemics that are thus of high conservation concern. Our analysis provides important real-world insights for other hotspots in the context of global strategic plans for biodiversity in informing considerations of the likely effort required in attaining set targets of comprehensive plant inventories. In a time of unprecedented biodiversity loss, we argue for a focused research agenda across disciplines to increase the rate of species descriptions in global biodiversity hotspots.
bibliographic citation: Treurnicht et al. (2017) Counting complete? Finalising the plant inventory of a global biodiversity hotspot. PeerJ 5:e2984 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2984
date submitted: 2016-11-01
date accepted: 2017-01-12
issued: 2017-02-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Treurnicht
  given name: Martina
author list: Agent
  family name: Colville
  given name: Jonathan F.
author list: Agent
  family name: Joppa
  given name: Lucas N.
author list: Agent
  family name: Huyser
  given name: Onno
author list: Agent
  family name: Manning
  given name: John
doi: 10.7717/peerj.2984
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-02-21
copyright: ©2017 Treurnicht et al.
attribution name: Treurnicht et al.

Patient satisfaction with doctor-patient interaction and its association with modifiable cardiovascular risk factors among moderately-high risk patients in primary healthcare
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background The outcomes of the physician-patient discussion intervene in the satisfaction of cardiovascular disease risk patients. Adherence to treatment, provision of continuous care, clinical management of the illness and patients’ adjustment are influenced by satisfaction with physician-patient interaction. This study aims to determine patient satisfaction with doctor-patient interactions and, over six months after following prevention counselling, its associations with modifiable cardiovascular risk factors amongst moderately-high risk patients in a primary healthcare clinic in Kelantan, Malaysia. Methods A prospective survey was conducted amongst patients with moderately-high cardiovascular risk. A total of 104 moderately-high risk patients were recruited and underwent structured prevention counselling based on the World Health Organization guideline, and their satisfaction with the doctor-patient interaction was assessed using ‘Skala Kepuasan Interaksi Perubatan-11,’ the Malay version of the Medical Interview Satisfaction Scale-21. Systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured at baseline and at a follow-up visit at six months. Descriptive analysis, paired t test and linear regression analyses were performed. Results A total of 102 patients responded, giving a response rate of 98.1%. At baseline, 76.5% of the respondents were satisfied with the relation with their doctor, with the favourable domain of distress relief (85.3%) and rapport/confidence (91.2%). The unfavourable domain was interaction outcome, with satisfaction in only 67.6% of the respondents. Between the two visits, changes had occurred in total cholesterol (P = 0.022) and in systolic blood pressure (P < 0.001). Six months after the initial visits, no relationship existed between patient satisfaction scores and changes in modifiable cardiovascular risks. Discussion The ‘Skala Kepuasan Interaksi Perubatan-11’ which represents a component of the in…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Mohd Noor Norhayati
creator: Abd Aziz Masseni
creator: Ishak Azlina
subject: Cardiology
subject: Public Health
subject: Science and Medical Education
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.2983
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Norhayati et al.
abstract: Background The outcomes of the physician-patient discussion intervene in the satisfaction of cardiovascular disease risk patients. Adherence to treatment, provision of continuous care, clinical management of the illness and patients’ adjustment are influenced by satisfaction with physician-patient interaction. This study aims to determine patient satisfaction with doctor-patient interactions and, over six months after following prevention counselling, its associations with modifiable cardiovascular risk factors amongst moderately-high risk patients in a primary healthcare clinic in Kelantan, Malaysia. Methods A prospective survey was conducted amongst patients with moderately-high cardiovascular risk. A total of 104 moderately-high risk patients were recruited and underwent structured prevention counselling based on the World Health Organization guideline, and their satisfaction with the doctor-patient interaction was assessed using ‘Skala Kepuasan Interaksi Perubatan-11,’ the Malay version of the Medical Interview Satisfaction Scale-21. Systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured at baseline and at a follow-up visit at six months. Descriptive analysis, paired t test and linear regression analyses were performed. Results A total of 102 patients responded, giving a response rate of 98.1%. At baseline, 76.5% of the respondents were satisfied with the relation with their doctor, with the favourable domain of distress relief (85.3%) and rapport/confidence (91.2%). The unfavourable domain was interaction outcome, with satisfaction in only 67.6% of the respondents. Between the two visits, changes had occurred in total cholesterol (P = 0.022) and in systolic blood pressure (P < 0.001). Six months after the initial visits, no relationship existed between patient satisfaction scores and changes in modifiable cardiovascular risks. Discussion The ‘Skala Kepuasan Interaksi Perubatan-11’ which represents a component of the in…
bibliographic citation: Norhayati et al. (2017) Patient satisfaction with doctor-patient interaction and its association with modifiable cardiovascular risk factors among moderately-high risk patients in primary healthcare. PeerJ 5:e2983 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2983
date submitted: 2016-08-23
date accepted: 2017-01-12
issued: 2017-02-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Norhayati
  given name: Mohd Noor
author list: Agent
  family name: Masseni
  given name: Abd Aziz
author list: Agent
  family name: Azlina
  given name: Ishak
doi: 10.7717/peerj.2983
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-02-21
copyright: ©2017 Norhayati et al.
attribution name: Norhayati et al.

Bax-inhibitor-1 knockdown phenotypes are suppressed by Buffy and exacerbate degeneration in a Drosophila model of Parkinson disease
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Bax inhibitor-1 (BI-1) is an evolutionarily conserved cytoprotective transmembrane protein that acts as a suppressor of Bax-induced apoptosis by regulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced cell death. We knocked down BI-1 in the sensitive dopa decarboxylase (Ddc) expressing neurons of Drosophila melanogaster to investigate its neuroprotective functions. We additionally sought to rescue the BI-1-induced phenotypes by co-expression with the pro-survival Buffy and determined the effect of BI-1 knockdown on the neurodegenerative α-synuclein-induced Parkinson disease (PD) model. Methods We used organismal assays to assess longevity of the flies to determine the effect of the altered expression of BI-1 in the Ddc-Gal4-expressing neurons by employing two RNAi transgenic fly lines. We measured the locomotor ability of these RNAi lines by computing the climbing indices of the climbing ability and compared them to a control line that expresses the lacZ transgene. Finally, we performed biometric analysis of the developing eye, where we counted the number of ommatidia and calculated the area of ommatidial disruption. Results The knockdown of BI-1 in these neurons was achieved under the direction of the Ddc-Gal4 transgene and resulted in shortened lifespan and precocious loss of locomotor ability. The co-expression of Buffy, the Drosophila anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 homologue, with BI-1-RNAi resulted in suppression of the reduced lifespan and impaired climbing ability. Expression of human α-synuclein in Drosophila dopaminergic neurons results in neuronal degeneration, accompanied by the age-dependent loss in climbing ability. We exploited this neurotoxic system to investigate possible BI-1 neuroprotective function. The co-expression of α-synuclein with BI-1-RNAi results in a slight decrease in lifespan coupled with an impairment in climbing ability. In supportive experiments, we employed the neuron-rich Drosophila compound eye to investigate subtle phenotypes that re…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: P. Githure M’Angale
creator: Brian E. Staveley
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Genetics
subject: Neuroscience
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.2974
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 M’Angale & Staveley
abstract: Background Bax inhibitor-1 (BI-1) is an evolutionarily conserved cytoprotective transmembrane protein that acts as a suppressor of Bax-induced apoptosis by regulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced cell death. We knocked down BI-1 in the sensitive dopa decarboxylase (Ddc) expressing neurons of Drosophila melanogaster to investigate its neuroprotective functions. We additionally sought to rescue the BI-1-induced phenotypes by co-expression with the pro-survival Buffy and determined the effect of BI-1 knockdown on the neurodegenerative α-synuclein-induced Parkinson disease (PD) model. Methods We used organismal assays to assess longevity of the flies to determine the effect of the altered expression of BI-1 in the Ddc-Gal4-expressing neurons by employing two RNAi transgenic fly lines. We measured the locomotor ability of these RNAi lines by computing the climbing indices of the climbing ability and compared them to a control line that expresses the lacZ transgene. Finally, we performed biometric analysis of the developing eye, where we counted the number of ommatidia and calculated the area of ommatidial disruption. Results The knockdown of BI-1 in these neurons was achieved under the direction of the Ddc-Gal4 transgene and resulted in shortened lifespan and precocious loss of locomotor ability. The co-expression of Buffy, the Drosophila anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 homologue, with BI-1-RNAi resulted in suppression of the reduced lifespan and impaired climbing ability. Expression of human α-synuclein in Drosophila dopaminergic neurons results in neuronal degeneration, accompanied by the age-dependent loss in climbing ability. We exploited this neurotoxic system to investigate possible BI-1 neuroprotective function. The co-expression of α-synuclein with BI-1-RNAi results in a slight decrease in lifespan coupled with an impairment in climbing ability. In supportive experiments, we employed the neuron-rich Drosophila compound eye to investigate subtle phenotypes that re…
bibliographic citation: M’Angale et al. (2017) Bax-inhibitor-1 knockdown phenotypes are suppressed by Buffy and exacerbate degeneration in a Drosophila model of Parkinson disease. PeerJ 5:e2974 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2974
date submitted: 2016-10-21
date accepted: 2017-01-10
issued: 2017-02-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: M’Angale
  given name: P. Githure
author list: Agent
  family name: Staveley
  given name: Brian E.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.2974
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-02-21
copyright: © 2017 M’Angale & Staveley
attribution name: M’Angale & Staveley

Intersexual differences of heat shock response between two amphipods (Eulimnogammarus verrucosus and Eulimnogammarus cyaneus) in Lake Baikal
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Acute temperature fluctuations are common in surface waters, and aquatic organisms may manifest physiological responses to punctuated temperature spikes long before behavioral responses. Ectotherms, especially cryophilic stenotherms such as those endemic to Lake Baikal (Siberia), may demonstrate specialized physiological responses to acute temperature increases because their proteomes have evolved to function most efficiently at lower temperatures (e.g., <10 °C). Therefore, our study questioned the nature and degree of variation in physiological response to acute thermal stress in two congenerous, endemic Baikal amphipod species, Eulimnogammarus verrucosus and Eulimnogammarus cyaneus. We hypothesized that because interspecific and intersexual thermosensitivity varies significantly among ectotherms, there would be divergent intersexual and interspecific strategies to withstand acute thermal stress, manifested in different protein compositions and concentrations. We exposed individuals to the species’ respective LT50 for one hour followed by a three-hour recovery period. We then performed 1D-PAGE, Western blotting, 2D-PAGE, and Mass Spectrometry techniques and assessed relative intersexual and interspecific changes in proteomic composition and heat shock protein 70 level. Our results demonstrate that females tend to be more sensitive to an acute thermal stimulus than males, most likely because females allocate significant energy to reproduction and less to heat shock response, evidenced by females’ significantly lower LT50time. Lower level of Hsp70 was found in females of the thermosensitive E. verrucosus compared to males of this species. No intersexual differences were found in Hsp70 level in thermotolerant E. cyaneus. Higher levels of hemocyanin subunits and arginine kinase were found in E. cyaneus females after heat shock and recovery compared to males, which was not found for E. verrucosus, suggesting interspecific mechanisms for E. cyaneus’s higher thermotoleran…
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format: text/html
creator: Daria Bedulina
creator: Michael F. Meyer
creator: Anton Gurkov
creator: Ekaterina Kondratjeva
creator: Boris Baduev
creator: Roman Gusdorf
creator: Maxim A. Timofeyev
subject: Aquaculture, Fisheries and Fish Science
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Ecology
subject: Environmental Sciences
subject: Marine Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.2864
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Bedulina et al.
abstract: Acute temperature fluctuations are common in surface waters, and aquatic organisms may manifest physiological responses to punctuated temperature spikes long before behavioral responses. Ectotherms, especially cryophilic stenotherms such as those endemic to Lake Baikal (Siberia), may demonstrate specialized physiological responses to acute temperature increases because their proteomes have evolved to function most efficiently at lower temperatures (e.g., <10 °C). Therefore, our study questioned the nature and degree of variation in physiological response to acute thermal stress in two congenerous, endemic Baikal amphipod species, Eulimnogammarus verrucosus and Eulimnogammarus cyaneus. We hypothesized that because interspecific and intersexual thermosensitivity varies significantly among ectotherms, there would be divergent intersexual and interspecific strategies to withstand acute thermal stress, manifested in different protein compositions and concentrations. We exposed individuals to the species’ respective LT50 for one hour followed by a three-hour recovery period. We then performed 1D-PAGE, Western blotting, 2D-PAGE, and Mass Spectrometry techniques and assessed relative intersexual and interspecific changes in proteomic composition and heat shock protein 70 level. Our results demonstrate that females tend to be more sensitive to an acute thermal stimulus than males, most likely because females allocate significant energy to reproduction and less to heat shock response, evidenced by females’ significantly lower LT50time. Lower level of Hsp70 was found in females of the thermosensitive E. verrucosus compared to males of this species. No intersexual differences were found in Hsp70 level in thermotolerant E. cyaneus. Higher levels of hemocyanin subunits and arginine kinase were found in E. cyaneus females after heat shock and recovery compared to males, which was not found for E. verrucosus, suggesting interspecific mechanisms for E. cyaneus’s higher thermotoleran…
bibliographic citation: Bedulina et al. (2017) Intersexual differences of heat shock response between two amphipods (Eulimnogammarus verrucosus and Eulimnogammarus cyaneus) in Lake Baikal. PeerJ 5:e2864 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2864
date submitted: 2016-09-22
date accepted: 2016-12-05
issued: 2017-02-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Bedulina
  given name: Daria
author list: Agent
  family name: Meyer
  given name: Michael F.
author list: Agent
  family name: Gurkov
  given name: Anton
author list: Agent
  family name: Kondratjeva
  given name: Ekaterina
author list: Agent
  family name: Baduev
  given name: Boris
author list: Agent
  family name: Gusdorf
  given name: Roman
author list: Agent
  family name: Timofeyev
  given name: Maxim A.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.2864
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-02-21
copyright: ©2017 Bedulina et al.
attribution name: Bedulina et al.

Species coexistence and the superior ability of an invasive species to exploit a facilitation cascade habitat
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Facilitation cascades generated by co-occurring foundation species can enhance the abundance and diversity of associated organisms. However, it remains poorly understood how differences among native and invasive species in their ability to exploit these positive interactions contribute to emergent patterns of community structure and biotic acceptance. On intertidal shorelines in New England, we examined the patterns of coexistence between the native mud crabs and the invasive Asian shore crab in and out of a facilitation cascade habitat generated by mid intertidal cordgrass and ribbed mussels. These crab species co-occurred in low intertidal cobbles adjacent to the cordgrass–mussel beds, despite experimental findings that the dominant mud crabs can kill and displace Asian shore crabs and thereby limit their successful recruitment to their shared habitat. A difference between the native and invasive species in their utilization of the facilitation cascade likely contributes to this pattern. Only the Asian shore crabs inhabit the cordgrass–mussel beds, despite experimental evidence that both species can similarly benefit from stress amelioration in the beds. Moreover, only Asian shore crabs settle in the beds, which function as a nursery habitat free of lethal mud crabs, and where their recruitment rates are particularly high (nearly an order of magnitude higher than outside beds). Persistence of invasive adult Asian shore crabs among the dominant native mud crabs in the low cobble zone is likely enhanced by a spillover effect of the facilitation cascade in which recruitment-limited Asian shore crabs settle in the mid intertidal cordgrass–mussel beds and subsidize their vulnerable populations in the adjacent low cobble zone. This would explain why the abundances of Asian shore crabs in cobbles are doubled when adjacent to facilitation cascade habitats. The propensity for this exotic species to utilize habitats created by facilitation cascades, despite the lack of a sh…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Andrew H. Altieri
creator: Andrew D. Irving
subject: Ecology
subject: Marine Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.2848
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Altieri and Irving
abstract: Facilitation cascades generated by co-occurring foundation species can enhance the abundance and diversity of associated organisms. However, it remains poorly understood how differences among native and invasive species in their ability to exploit these positive interactions contribute to emergent patterns of community structure and biotic acceptance. On intertidal shorelines in New England, we examined the patterns of coexistence between the native mud crabs and the invasive Asian shore crab in and out of a facilitation cascade habitat generated by mid intertidal cordgrass and ribbed mussels. These crab species co-occurred in low intertidal cobbles adjacent to the cordgrass–mussel beds, despite experimental findings that the dominant mud crabs can kill and displace Asian shore crabs and thereby limit their successful recruitment to their shared habitat. A difference between the native and invasive species in their utilization of the facilitation cascade likely contributes to this pattern. Only the Asian shore crabs inhabit the cordgrass–mussel beds, despite experimental evidence that both species can similarly benefit from stress amelioration in the beds. Moreover, only Asian shore crabs settle in the beds, which function as a nursery habitat free of lethal mud crabs, and where their recruitment rates are particularly high (nearly an order of magnitude higher than outside beds). Persistence of invasive adult Asian shore crabs among the dominant native mud crabs in the low cobble zone is likely enhanced by a spillover effect of the facilitation cascade in which recruitment-limited Asian shore crabs settle in the mid intertidal cordgrass–mussel beds and subsidize their vulnerable populations in the adjacent low cobble zone. This would explain why the abundances of Asian shore crabs in cobbles are doubled when adjacent to facilitation cascade habitats. The propensity for this exotic species to utilize habitats created by facilitation cascades, despite the lack of a sh…
bibliographic citation: Altieri et al. (2017) Species coexistence and the superior ability of an invasive species to exploit a facilitation cascade habitat. PeerJ 5:e2848 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2848
date submitted: 2016-09-14
date accepted: 2016-11-28
issued: 2017-02-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Altieri
  given name: Andrew H.
author list: Agent
  family name: Irving
  given name: Andrew D.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.2848
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-02-21
copyright: © 2017 Altieri and Irving
attribution name: Altieri and Irving

PeerJ
type: Periodical
uri: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359